Chapter 31: October 1935

Dear Journal,

            I took boo Radley home after the argument was settled. When I stood on the Radley porch I saw my life through Boo’s eyes. I saw all the summers and school years pass and walked around in his skin. Now I really understand was Atticus means about that. I told Atticus that Tate was right, I knew that if he charged Boo with the murder it would be like killing a mockingbird. To end the night Atticus began reading to me and Jem as I fell asleep in his arms. 

Chapter 30: October 1935

Dear Journal,

            I showed Boo around the house while Atticus and the sheriff talked. He was no monster, he was just like us only he acted very shy and childlike. I enjoyed talking to him and was disappointed that Jem wouldn’t be able to see him. On the porch I heard Atticus and Tate arguing about who killed Bob Ewell. Atticus said Jem and that is was a clear case of self-defense but Tate said he fell on the knife but them kept looking sideways at Boo. The sheriff said something about making mistakes before but not this time and ended the argument. 

Chapter 29: October 1935

Dear Journal,

            Bob Ewell attacked me and Jem and now he is dead. I told the sheriff what I thought had happened and he kept asking me the questions. When he asked who pulled Bob Ewell off of me I was confused at first. I thought it had been Jem but he had been knocked out, but then I saw the last figure in the room and immediately I knew who had saved us. Boo Radley. 

Chapter 28: October 1935

Dear Journal, 

Bob Ewell is dead. After the play was over me and Jem began to walk home in the dark, and we heared this strange noise following us and I thought it was Cecil Jacobs trying to scare us but tehn someone attacked us. It was right outside the Radley gate when I got pushed to the ground. I heard a strange noise and heard Jem scream and then someone grabbed me and started to squish me in my costume. I was so scared but then another man, I thought it was Jem, pulled the attacker off. I saw someone carry Jem into my house and Atticus ran out to get me I asked if Jem was dead but Dr. Reynolds said he wasn’t I hope he will be okay and then Sheriff Tate walked in and said Bob Ewell was dead.
 

Chapter 27: October 1935

Dear Journal,

            Three things have happened in Maycomb since the last time I wrote and here they are; first Bob Ewell had a job and lost it in a matter of days becoming probably the only person to do that. The second thing was someone tried to break into Judge John Taylor’s house and from now on he sits with a gun. Finally the third thing was Bob Ewell started to harass Helen Robinson to and from her work but Mr. Link put an end to that. Atticus tried to explain his behavior to me but I’m still scared of him. Also we are having a Halloween play and I play the part of the Ham, Jem says he will walk me to the school so I have to go now. 

Chapter 26: September 1935

Dear Journal,

            School started again and I have been recently thinking about the Radley place. It doesn’t scare me anymore but I still kind of want to see Boo Radley. Atticus’s case was over but it’s presence still hung over us. I was confused one day during school when we spoke about the Germans persecuting Jews, our teacher talked about how it wasn’t right and I remembered her saying bad things about Tom Robinson and I questioned how that was any different. When I asked Jem about it he got really mad and yelled, it shocked me but I know he will be back to normal tomorrow. 

Chapter 25: September 1935

Dear Journal,

            I reckon Jem is going through one of those stages again. I found a bug in my room and he wouldn’t let me kill it. Oh well Jem is always changing, but I just remembered something Dill told me, on the way to the Robinsons to tell Helen, Tom was dead Atticus picked up Jem and Dill. He said when Atticus told her she just crumpled to the ground. His death was the gossip of the town for a couple of days but then Mr. Underwood’s editorial came out with his opinion on the case. He used the name Ewell and it still scares me but Jem says there is no reason to be scared. 

Chapter 24: July 1935

Dear Journal,

            Today Aunt Alexandria had the ladies from town over to have lunch and made me stay with them. I first I was nervous and scared but I sat by Miss Maudie and I knew she would treat me like a friend. Something terrible happened though in the middle and Atticus called Aunty, Miss Maudie, Calpurnia and I to the kitchen. He told us that Tom Robinson was dead. Aunt Alexandria looked said and I had hear gossip about the case earlier in the dining room, but Miss Maudie and Aunty walked into that room like nothing happened and kept their composure. I learned a lot about a lady’s world today that I didn’t know before and I decided that if Aunty can do it, so can I. 

Chapter 23: July 1935

Dear Journal,

            Yesterday Bob Ewell spat in Atticus’s face and threated to kill him. Atticus doesn’t seem to be worried but I am really scared. Atticus says that he needed to take his anger out on someone and he decided to take it out on him and that’s all he is gonna do but I’m still scared.  Me and Jem have been trying really hard for Atticus to take Bob Ewell seriously so we have been coming up with plans to try but he keeps saying no and that it is only a threat, but he tried to explain it and we feel a little better. Atticus also tried to explain the outcome of the case and why things like this happen in Maycomb. I also asked if we could have Walter Cunningham over for dinner and Aunt Alexandria yelled at me telling he that folks like us don’t hang around folks like them. I really don’t understand it but I think Jem does, he says I’ll change my mind about it soon enough, but for now we are going to bed. 

Chapter 22: July 1935

Dear Journal,

Jem is still mad about how Ton Robinson’s case turned out and Atticus even seems a little upset about it too.  Aunt Alexandria tells me just to give Jem some time and he will get over it, but before Atticus went to bed him an Aunty had another argument about me and Jem going to the courthouse today. Atticus ended it and went to bed, there was a gloomy feel over the house but everything was better in the morning. We had a bunch of food in the kitchen Cal says people have been sending it for Atticus defending Tom Robinson.  When we went outside Jem, Dill and I were the talk of the town, three children in the courthouse at Tom Robinson’s case was apparently a scandal. I don’t really understand but I also heard some whispers about sitting in the balcony but I don’t see the big deal about it. Miss Maudie made us cake and tried to explain what happened with the case about how there are more people like Atticus in Maycomb then we think. Then something awful happened, Miss Stephanie came running up telling us Bob Ewell threated to kill Atticus. 

Chapter 21: July 1935

Dear Journal,

Atticus found us. Calpurnia came in a told him were we missing and he made us go home to eat supper but he let us go back to hear the verdict. We made it back in plenty of time and I took a nap waiting for the jury to come back. Now that they are back Judge Taylor calls the court to order. The judge tallies up the jury votes and Tom Robinson is found guilty. It makes me disappointed but Jem looks crushed. As Atticus leaves the entire balcony full of Negros stand respectively for him.  

Chapter 20: July 1935

Dear Journal,

While me and Dill were outside the courtroom Mr Douplus Raymond started talking to us. I was reluctant at first because he was known as a drunk, evil man but we learned his secret. He doesn’t carry booze in that bag of his all day it’s just Coca-Cola!! He then tried to explain to us how it’s his reason for acting the way he does, because the town wants a reason for him to live around black folks. After talking to Mr. Raymond we went back to the courtroom to catch the last of Atticus’s closing statement. Jem says I’m not old enough to understand it all but it must have been great because Atticus did things I had never seen him do before. I really hope he wins this case.  

Chapter 19: July 1935

Dear Journal,

Atticus called his one and only witness to the stand, Tom Robinson. While Atticus questioned him we heard his side of the story telling us Mayella called him in to fix the door hinge and tried to kiss him and her father saw it, so he ran away. When the prosecution cross-examined him however they treated him terribly the exact opposite of how Atticus treated Mayella and Dill couldn’t take it anymore so I took him outside. He didn’t understand why Mr. Glimer was being so mean and rude to Tom Robinson. 

Chapter 18: July 1935

Dear Journal,

Mayella Ewell was just called to the stand and she really confused me. When Atticus was talking to her he was being nothing but polite and she thought he was trying to mock her. After she testified I realized how alone Mayella must feel and pity her. Well Mayella told us what she says happened to her with the same story as the first two witnesses, but it still doesn’t add up. Tom Robinson is crippled with one arm, it would be impossible for him to have attacked her. Jem seems confident about the case and I really hope Atticus can win it.  

Chapter 17: July 1935

Dear Journal,

Mr. Heck Tate and Mr. Ewell just got done testifying and Jem seems to think that Atticus has the case in the bag but I’m not so sure, it’s going to be hard to win over a white jury to free a black man. First the prosecutor questioned the witnesses and then Atticus had cross-examination. By asking the questions Atticus showed that a doctor wasn’t called to the scene which I don’t really understand why he had to prove that but then something better happened. Atticus proved that Mayella’s attacker was left-handed!! Tom Robinson has a crippled left-hand so he couldn’t have possibly have done it, but still he is a black man and it will be hard to win this case. 

Chapter 16: July 1935

Dear Journal,

After we got home from the jail what happened finally sunk in and I couldn’t take it anymore, I cried. Jem didn’t say anything about it so I’m not ashamed for it. This morning Atticus and Aunt Alexandria got in another fight but then Atticus had to leave for court he told me and Jem not to go to it but we went and picked up Dill and here we are now waiting for it to start. There were no seats left so Reverend Sykes took us up to the balcony and we got a great view of the courtroom. I have to stop writing now the first witness was just called, Mr. Heck Tate.

Chapter 15: July 1935

Dear Journal,

Dill is allowed to stay with us!! We have been having great fun all week until last night. Last night Atticus put us to bed and then left mysteriously. I didn’t put much thought into it but Jem was worried and I caught him sneaking out so I went with him. We stopped by to get Dill and continued on to the jail where Tom Robinson was kept and we found Atticus sitting in front of his jail cell when suddenly a group of men came and confronted him. From the looks on their faces they didn’t look very nice but I didn’t understand why they would be looking like and I was scared for Atticus so I ran to him. I don’t know what was gonna happen but I wasn’t going to be good so I started talking to Mr. Cunningham  because that was the polite thing to do. Then men left and we went home I don’t know why it happened or what was going to happen but it scared me. 

Chapter 14: July 1935

Dear Journal,

Me and Atticus were talking the other night when I asked him about what “raped” meant. He gave me this long definition of what he thought it was and I could barely understand it. As we were talking I said something about going to church with Cal and how I wanted to go to her house and visit her. Although before Atticus could say anything Aunt Alexandra said no to it. I was very mad with that and I stormed out. As I sat in the bathroom I listened to Atticus try and defend Cal but Aunt Alexandra wouldn't hear  of it. Also Dill came all the way from his new home and snuck back to ours!! Jem ratted him out for some reason probably part of his growing up phase. But still Dill is here!! I had missed him so much and now at least for a little while we can exchange our stories just like before. 

Chapter 13: July 1935

Dear Journal,

Aunt Alexandra came to live with the family and Cal. She barged right in and sat her things down and began delivering orders left and right. Aunt Alexandra brought a little uneasiness to the house and to Atticus. She has been obsessed with these streak things and that every family has one. She seems to like to spread gossip and rumors a lot. Atticus just hasn't been acting right lately since she came. Just the other day he almost slammed the door but caught himself. He said that he was turning into Cousin Joshua and went back to his business. I hope Aunt Alexandria isn’t staying for long but I fear that my hope won’t come true. 

Chapter 12: June-July 1935

Dear Journal,

Jem is growing up. I don’t understand why he is changing so much but now he is treating me different. Cal tells me not to worry about him because it’s a-part of life. Last Sunday Atticus had a business trip so Calpurnia took us to her church. Their pulpit was broken down and they had no hymnals but it wasn’t that much different from our church. Zeebo led the songs and the congregation repeated. I had a lot of fun at this new experience but when we got home we found Aunt Alexandria who is now staying with us for a while. 

Chapter 11: March-May 1935

Dear Journal,

Sorry I haven’t wrote in a while but me and Jem have been busy this past couple months reading to Ms. Dubose. Ms. Dubose was a terrible, nasty old lady who Jem went off on one day. He started ripping up her plants and yard after she said something mean about Atticus. As his punishment Jem had to read to her every day and I came along for company. Everyday see would sit a stare and always during his reading she would fall asleep but have some sort of weird fit, she scared me a lot. A couple days ago she died so we have no longer been reading to her and if I was scared of her Jem was terrified. I overheard Jem and Atticus talking about her in the living room about some sort of an addiction but I don’t understand. Atticus tells us she was courageous but I don’t understand how he can say that when he said such mean things about him. 

Chapter 10: February 1935

Dear Journal,

Recently I’ve been thinking about Atticus and what he can do and I could barely think of anything. He’s getting older, all he does is work in an office and he hasn’t done anything to impress anyone. That is until today!! Today a mad dog was walking down our street and Atticus killed him with one shot straight in the head! I didn’t know Atticus could even shoot a gun! I wonder why he wouldn’t be proud of something like that and Miss Maudie tried to explain it to me but I didn’t really understand, but Jem says it’s because Atticus is a gentleman. 

Chapter 9: December 1934

Dear Journal,

Christmas was last week and just as before we went to Aunt Alexandria’s. Jem has been ignoring me for a while now so I wasn’t surprised when he stayed with the adults all day but the bad part was that left me with Cousin Francis. At first it was okay and I was being polite until Francis started calling Atticus names I couldn’t understand, but just by the way he said it I knew they were bad. So I beat the tar out of him to teach him a lesson. Then Uncle Jack whipped me! He didn’t even ask for my side of the story! Now I’m sitting in my room hating Uncle Jack but someone is coming up the stairs now so bye!

Chapter 8- November 1934

Dear Journal,

            It snowed!!! for the first time since 1885 it snowed, so we didn't have school and me and Jem built our first snowman, it was great fun. Since it was so cold that night everyone had their fires burning to keep warm and poor Miss Maudie's house caught fire. Jem and I watched from in front of the Radley place as the flames danced. Finally the men put it out and no one was hurt and now Miss Maudie is staying with Miss Stephanie. But the creepy part about it is someone from the Radley Place within all the commotion came and wrapped a blanket around my shoulders. Nathan Radley was helping with the fire, so that left one person, Boo Radley.

Chapter 7- September, 1934- October 1934

Dear Journal,

            The second grade just started and Jem finally told me what happened the night he went to get his pants. It was creepy how they had been sew up and folded, like whoever did it knew he would be coming back for em'. Now that we were back in school we were checking our tree everyday for more stuff until Nathan Radley filled the knot-hole with cement! Jem took it really hard, we were making up ideas on who was putting the stuff in the tree and I think he thought it was Boo Radley. Well I'm kinda sad we won't be getting anything from there anymore but I think it was deeper for Jem. 

Chapter 6- September, 1934 Chapter 6- September, 1934

Dear Journal,

            On the last day summer, before Dill had to leave, we went to the Radley house. After nightfall we sneaked under the back fence into the yard and up to the window. Jem looked in but someone passed by the window. We ran and Nathan Radley shot a gun as we tore under the fence again but Jem lost his pants. Nathan Radley told everyone he thought it was a Nergo trying to steal his crops and chickens. With quick thinking Atticus didn't find out it was us and Jem went during the night to get his pants. It scared me to death waiting for him to come back, but come back he did, but he didn't speak a word to me of what happened at the Radley house.

Chapter 5- July, 1934- September, 1934

Dear Journal,

            Jem and Dill finally stopped playing Boo Radley, but now they exclude me from their games. I have resolved to sitting and talking with Miss Maudie. She is the only adult to doesn't treat us like kids, she talks to us the same as she talks to Atticus. I have complete trust in Miss Maudie and consider her a friend. She would never tell on me or Jem about anything. Everything was okay until Jem and Dill tried to send a message to Boo Radley, that plan ended badly with Atticus scolding Jem.

Chapter 4- September 1933 – June, 1934

Dear Journal,

            Dill is finally back! A couple days ago we finally got out of school, but on the way home in one of the Radley's tree's I found a piece of gum, and later me and Jem found some old coins in the tree. We don't know who is putting them in the tree, put we decided to follow the finder's keepers rule. Now with summer and Dill back we have begun our dramas once again, but now we made one of Boo Radley. It's fun to play but I get scared that Boo can see us and will get mad. I've been trying to get Jem and Dill to stop playing it but they won't listen. I'm gonna stop because I'm pretty sure Boo is in that house.

Chapter 3- September, 1933

Dear Journal,

            Can you believe it?!? Walter Cunningham came for dinner at our house today, and when I tried to correct his manners Calpurnia scolded me! He is a Cunningham! The next day at school Miss Caroline tried to scold Burris Ewell, just another sign that she is not familiar with Maycomb. I asked Atticus why the Ewells didn't have to come to school and he said something about “bending the law.” I still don't really understand it but now by “bending the law” I can still read with Atticus at night. I'm still trying to convince him to get me out of school but I'm not sure that it's working.      


  

Chapter 2- September, 1933

Dear Journal,

            Today was the first day of school, Dill left us about a week ago to go back to Mississippi, and I went to the first grade. I have never been so disappointed in my life, I was so excited to go to school until I actually went and now I never want to go back. First, our new  teacher, Miss Caroline, scolded me for reading and writing and I didn't even do anything wrong! She says I started off on the wrong foot and that I can't read with Atticus anymore. Miss Caroline is new to Maycomb so she doesn't know the ways of Maycomb, Atticus told me to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I still don't want to go to school anymore.

Chapter 1- June, 1933- August 1933

Dear Journal,

            Summer has come to Maycomb County and just like all the years before people go about their ways in the terrible heat. Atticus has already left for his lawyer work and Calpurnia is working in the kitchen so me and Jem go outside just like every summer before, but this time we met Dill. Dill was from Mississippi and it's really nice to have him around to help play out Jem and I's drama's we had read and heard about. After a while we told Dill about the Radley house and he really wants to see Boo Radley. We keep tellin' him it's a bad idea but he is stuck on it, I'm kinda scared that he's gonna do something stupid.